High Days and Holidays – Who pays when extra Public Holidays are granted?

In June 2022 we all cheered and celebrated as our dear Queen Elizabeth celebrated 70 years on the throne. An additional bank holiday was given to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.

Sadly, this September she has left us, having served us so faithfully for all those years. It is likely that the British Government may announce a day of mourning or an additional bank holiday. Many businesses will take the decision to close at other times as well in a mark of respect, and to deal with grief.

Next year- at some point- Charles III will be crowned as King, and there will be much ceremony and celebrating once again.

So, as an employer do you have to grant the additional holiday and do you have to pay your staff? As with all of these questions – the answer is …it depends…

If, as an employer, you have decided to close your business on a normal workday as a mark of respect- then yes you will be paying the staff as usual.

When the government grants an additional public holiday then we need to look at our contracts of employment to decide how we will deal with this additional holiday. Which of these circumstances fits your situation?

1. Your contract is for 28 days holidays including bank and public holidays.
   The additional day should come from the employee’s holiday allowance. You are free to give an additional paid day off if you wish.
2. Your contract is for 20 days Plus bank and public holidays.
   If there is an additional awarded day off – your contract means you should pay that day in addition to the usual days off.
3. Your contract is for 20 days plus these listed 8 bank holidays (Christmas and Boxing day, New Year’s day, Good Friday and Easter Monday, Early and Late May bank holidays, Late August bank holiday).
   In this case an additional day should be awarded and paid for by the employer.

Regardless of the numbers of days involved – we hope this is helpful. If your situation is more complicated than we have outlined (above), feel free to contact us for some individual advice if you need to.

Email Helen or contact her via 02922 805 930.